Water-borne airplane terminal



July 31, 1956 F. R. HARRIS 2, 5

WATER-BORNE AIRPLANE TERMINAL Original Filed Aug. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WhFV/M ATTORNEY July 31, 1956 F. R. HARRIS 5 WATER-BORNE AIRPLANE TERMINAL Original Filed Aug. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOI; WW5 FEiVEE/C z map/s, 0:04:50 5 FMIfA/(E M/C/IAEL s. (WENT/ML, lam/wok 51 our, fxscurozs ATTORN EY United States Patent 2,756,712 WATER-HORNE AIRPLANE TERMINAL Frederic R. Harris, deceased, late of New York, N. Y., by Florence B. Downs, Michael S. Lobenthal, and Monroe Percy Bloch, executors, all of New York, N. Y., assignors to Frederic R. Harris, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application August 14, 1945, Serial No. 610,749. Divided and this application October 14, 1953, Serial No. 386,024

6 Claims. (Cl. 11443.5)

This invention relates to improvements in waterborne terminals for aircraft, such as planes or flying boats, which can light on a body of water and rise directly from the surface thereof.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a structure for a sea plane terminal that is built to have elevated side structures and a space between them for the body or hull of plane; the side structures being of suitable height and shiftable on the terminal, so that the position of the side structures can be adjusted.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a sea plane terminal resembling a floating dry dock, to be partly submerged in the same manner as in the lifting and repairing of ships and adapted to give the plane and all its parts suitable support therein, and have ample space in which the plane can be loaded or unloaded or repaired.

The design of the invention is fully described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that disclose one or more embodiments of the terminal. But, many variations in details may be made without departing from the general plan in which the invention resides.

On said drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top plan of a complete sea plane terminal according to this invention; and

Figure 2 is an end view of the same; and

Figure 3 is an end view of a modification.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 610,749, filed August 14, 1945 (now abandoned), by the same inventor, for a patent on a Flying Boat Terminal.

Figures 1 and 2 show a floating terminal that is built with a central pontoon 1 from the sides of which extend suitable framework 2 comprising beams and braces, to be covered for the most part with planking 3 at the level of the top of the pontoon 1 to provide a supporting surface or float, rectangular in outline. At the corners of the framework are movable hollow towers 4 mounted on rollers or wheels 5, and flanking both ends of the pontoon 1 and extending below as well as above the framework 1. The framework has open spaces 6 at these corners for the towers and the rollers 5 engage rails 7 extending along the sides of the openings 6 flanking the pontoon 1. The towers project at their lower ends through the framework, which has the spaces 6 between the rails 7 from the pontoon 1 out to the opposite sides of the terminal; and the towers can be displaced in the open spaces 6 between the rails 7 towards v and from the pontoon 1, and caused to assume the most advantageous position for each airship. The framework which extends outward from both sides of the pontoon 1 comprises suitable struts and bracing members to make a safe, light, cooperating structure or member on which the towers are mounted.

2,756,712 Patented July 31, 1956 .pontoon 1 and the towers 4 are flooded. The sea plane then taxies between the towers, which are moved into position so as to be between the floats 8 under the wings of the plane beyond the outermost motors. The terminal is then pumped out, the pontoon 1 being directly beneath the body 10 of the sea plane; and as the terminal rises in the water the towers or structures 4 engage the undersides of the wings 11, and the plane can be elevated with the terminal until the planking 3 is above water. Suitable blocking can of course be put between the pontoon 1 and hull 10. The dock can then be moved ashore or a floating bridge or gangway moved out to it, or be served by a barge or lighter.

Thepontoon 1 and the towers 4 each have inlets for water when they are flooded, and pumps for discharging the water when the dock is to be raised. Such apparatus is part of the equipment of every floating dry dock, pumps being indicated at P, inlet ports at I and discharge ports at 0.

Of course the towers will be equipped with suitable brakes to hold the towers in place at the required distance from the pontoon hull 1. Other locking devices for the purpose may be utilized. The position of the towers can be adjusted according to the size and type of plane arrived at the terminal.

According to Figure 3 the same type of framework is utilized with central pontoon 1 and rollers supporting the towers 4 at the corners. On top of the pontoon and framework, however, is an auxiliary pontoon 12 having a central bed or cradle 13 and elevated sides 14 to which a suitable number of cables 15 may be attached to stabilize the sea plane in the dock. The pontoon 12 is moored to the framework 2. This terminal is submerged by flooding the pontoon 1, towers 4 and the pontoon 12; and the sea plane is moved in until the body or hull is directly above the cradle 13. The pontoons 1 and 12 and towers 4 are then pumped out, lifting the sea plane, the wings of the latter being secured by the cables 15, to the elevated sides 14 of the pontoon 12. The terminal can be kept just low enough to float the pontoon 12, which is then unmoored and towed away with the plane to a location having all facilities for unloading, loading and repairing. Pumps and valves may be provided for the pontoons 12 also.

With the construction presented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the plane can be unloaded in the terminal while still afloat; the passengers and cargo being transferred by barge, gangways, or other means to the tops of the towers 4 and then to shore, or landed directly from the plane; or both pontoons 1 and 12 can first be fully raised, and afterward the terminal of Figure 3 may then be sunk again far enough to float the auxiliary pontoon 12, the latter unmoored and the plane removed by towing.

Thus it is apparent this sea plane terminal is well adapted to serve the required purpose at any place where it may be needed. Propellers indicated at 16p may be mounted on the towers 4, driven by engines located at convenient points, to propel or shift the terminal.

The bottom of the sea plane berthed in the terminal is indicated at 10 with wings 11 extending over the sides 6 of the section 2, and the wings 11 carry floats 8. The framework 2 comprises two parallel longitudinal beams 16 in the middle and cross beams 17 at the ends extending across the full width of the structure. Adjacent each beam 17 and parallel thereto is a shorter cross beam 18, and the beams 17 and 18 are connected by full length side beams 19. All said beams are rigidly united together and between the beams 18 are the longitudinal and diagonal braces 20 and 21 reinforcing the entire structure of the terminal.

This invention having been described what is claimed 1s:

1. A terminal for aircraft, said terminal comprising an elongated pontoon, transverse beams attached to each end of the pontoon and extending outward at both sides of the pontoon, rails on said beams, and towers movably mounted on said rails and disposed fore and aft on each side of the pontoon.

2. A terminal for aircraft, said terminal comprising an elongated pontoon, transverse beams attached to each end of the pontoon and extending outward at both sides of the pontoon, rails on said beams, and towers movably mounted on said rails and disposed fore and aft on each side of the pontoon, the beams at each end having open spaces between them on each side of the pontoon, the lower portions of the towers being in said spaces.

3. A terminal for aircraft, said terminal having a central pontoon, longitudinal beams one at each side of the pontoon, cross beams one at each end of the pontoon affixed to the ends of said longitudinal beams and pontoon and extending laterally therefrom to both sides of the terminal, additional cross beams parallel to said cross beams at the ends and secured to said longitudinal beams and pontoon, said additional cross beams being disposed adjacent each of said ends and extending laterally one to each of the opposite sides of the pontoon, and towers movably supported on all said cross beams.

4. A terminal for aircraft, said terminal having a central pontoon, longitudinal beams one at each side of the pontoon, cross beams one at each end of the pontoon affixed to the ends of said longitudinal beams and pontoon and extending laterally therefrom to both sides of the terminal, additional cross beams parallel to said cross beams at the ends and secured to said longitudinal beams and pontoon, said additional cross beams being disposed adjacent each of said ends and extending laterally one to each of the opposite sides of the pontoon, and towers movably supported on all said cross beams, said cross beams having rails thereon, the towers having Wheels engaging said rails.

5. A terminal for aircraft, said terminal having a central pontoon, longitudinal beams one at each side of the pontoon, cross beams one at each end of the pontoon afiixed to the ends of said longitudinal beams and pontoon and extending laterally therefrom to both sides of the terminal, additional cross beams parallel to said cross beams at the ends and secured to said longitudinal beams and pontoon, said additional cross beams being disposed adjacent each end and extending laterally one to each of the opposite sides of the pontoon, and towers movably supported on all said cross beams, the cross beams for each tower having spaces between them at each side of the pontoon and the lower ends of the towers being in said spaces.

6. A terminal for aircraft, said terminal having a central pontoon, longitudinal beams one at each side of the pontoon, cross beams one at each end of the pontoon afiixed to the ends of said longitudinal beams and pontoon and extending laterally therefrom to both sides of the terminal, additional cross beams parallel to said cross beams at the ends and secured to said longitudinal beams and pontoon, said additional cross beams being disposed adjacent each end and extending laterally one to each of the opposite sides of the pontoon, and towers movably supported on all said cross beams, said cross beams having rails thereon, the towers having wheels engaging said rails, the cross beams for each tower having spaces between them at each side of the pontoon and the lower ends of the towers being in said spaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,569 Nelssen Aug. 4, 1903 1,632,491 Matthiessen et al June 14, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS 273,163 Italy Mar. 31, 1930 290,505 Great Britain May 17, 1928 484,068 Germany Oct. 12, 1929 

